Living things have no inertia, and tend to no equilibrium.

If a man cannot see a church, it is preposterous to take his opinion about its altar-piece or painted window.

Ecclesiasticism in science is only unfaithfulness to truth

The saying that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing is, to my mind, a very dangerous adage. If knowledge is real and genuine, I do not believe that it is other than a very valuable posession, however infinitesimal its quantity may be. Indeed, if a little knowledge is dangerous, where is a man who has so much as to be out of danger?

As to sagacity, I should say that his judgement respecting the warmest place and the softest cushion in a room is infallible, his punctuality at meal times is admirable, and his pertinacity in jumping on people's shoulders till they give him some of the best of what is going, indicates great firmness.

That which lies before the human race is a constant struggle to maintain and improve, in opposition to State of Nature, the State of Art of an organized polity; in which, and by which, man may develop a worthy civilization

It is better to read a little and thoroughly than cram a crude undigested mass into my head, though it be great in quantity.